Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said that the state would not turn a blind eye over the recent rebellious rightwing protests across the country, including Karachi against the acquittal of Aasia Bibi. "Provocative speeches and statements of so-called religious leaders against state institutions and leaders will not be ignored," the minister said at a press conference, here.
Fawad said they had disdained the state, its constitution, its people, politicians, Pak Army and the judiciary during protests. He said all this was unforgettable and the state would fulfill it responsibility by taking them to task. He asserted it was not a religious issue, but it was an act of treason and the state could not ignore it. The Minister vowed that the government would not forgive them and would take stern action as per law.
The violent protesters damaged properties of people, torched vehicles, and held mega cities of the country hostage; however the government resolved the issue via a strategy. Fawad criticized the PPP leadership, saying Sindh province was being run by a gang of goons and the province needs to get rid of it. He reiterated that the money launderers would not be given any NRO. He claimed PTI would get a two-third majority from Sindh in the next general elections.
The Information Minister said he met with the PTI parliamentarians in Sindh. He said there were complaints that the provincial government was playing politics of vengeance and victimization. "It has remained trend set by PPP. There is hooligans rule in Sindh," he said, noting that "Whenever we say thieves should be sent behind the bars, ironically, Khursheed Shah of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaves the Assembly although we don't even point out anyone."
On the other hand, PPP retorted to Fawad remarks against PPP leadership and the Sindh government. Adviser to the Chief Minister Sindh for Information, Law and Anticorruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab asked the Federal Minister to concentrate on the performance of the PTI government instead of diverting attention of people from his party's own inability to run the affairs of country.
Wahab demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to clarify his position on Chaudhry's statement. He said it was reflection of dictatorial mindset. "Fawad should not be blamed for this statement because he was groomed under the dictators and he had the honour of serving dictator of recent times in his capacity of his spokesperson," Wahab alleged. He was of the view that federal government's tactics aimed at deflecting public attention from the Tsunami of unprecedented rising cost of living due to price hike in the country, would fail. "Everything was fine and up to the mark for Chaudhry when he was in PPP," the adviser taunted. He said the federal government still owes us some dues. He turned down Fawad's claim of releasing funds worth Rs750 billion for the Sindh government. Anyone could audit funds released to the provincial government from the Centre.
Murtaza Wahab said it is wrong to repudiate the mandate of people of Sindh. "Such statements ruin Pakistan's image in front of the investors," he said.
The PPP leader Saeed Ghani said Fawad should know that the provinces are autonomous. He taunted, asking where Fawad and company had gone when the federal capital was held hostage for three days. "Niazi [Prime Minister Imran Khan] surrendered before those who openly hurled abusive remarks at judiciary and Pakistan Army," he lamented. Ghani said mandate of Karachi was robbed and awarded to Niazi.
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